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Audio & Video Included in Post. Audio & Video Courtesy of WISH-TV/Channel 8. ©2010 WISH-TV/Lin Broadcasting. Indiana’s Democratic Senator Evan Bayh, the force behind Indiana’s Democratic Party for twenty-four years, suddenly announced today that he will not run for re-election. Bayh’s decision came just twenty-four hours before he was to present 4,500 signatures of registered voters on petitions to place his name on the ballot.

Speaking at the IUPUI Conference Center, Bayh said, “After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned. For some time, I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should. There is too much partisanship and not enough progress — too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving. Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples’ business is not being done.”

And Bayh added, My decision was not motivated by political concern. Even in the current challenging environment, I am confident in my prospects for re-election.”

Sen. Bayh’s decision throws the Indiana Senate race into turmoil. It is virtually impossible for Indiana Democrats to find a candidate for the May 4th primary by the filing deadline.  Instead, state party leaders will select a candidate, not for the primary, but for the November election.